Transit Options from Changi Airport to Sentosa
If you want to reach Sentosa Island once you land at SIN Airport, you should keep in mind that airport taxis and private airport transfers are the only direct transit options. Verily, although travelers can get from Singapore Airport to Sentosa Island via bus or train, one or more changes of lines are required to get to their destination, making journeys tedious. On the other hand, airport car rentals are the ideal way to travel to Sentosa Island and also explore all that the island of Singapore has to offer.
| Options | Price (S$) | Price ($) | Price (€) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi | 30-35 | 22.30-26 | 20.70-24.10 | 30-35 min |
| Train | 6.18 | 4.60 | 4.25 | 85 min |
| Bus | 2.33 | 1.73 | 1.60 | 120 min |
Singapore Airport to Sentosa Island by Taxi
Singapore airport taxis provide fast and convenient transit services from Changi Airport to Sentosa. Besides being available around the clock at the airport, they offer door-to-door rides and are known for their reliability, with scamming incidents being rare. Although they don’t have a unique color, they can easily be distinguished by the Taxi sign on their roofs. It’s important to remember that you’ll find standard taxis, premium cabs, and limousine vehicles at the SIN taxi stands. Thus, you should pick the category that is most suitable for your budget and catch the first vehicle of that type waiting at the taxi stands. Fortunately, all terminals feature taxi ranks right outside their Arrivals halls.
Your ride from Singapore Airport to Sentosa Island will last about 30-35 minutes. During rush hours, you should expect a 45-minute journey. The cost of the taxi service won’t be fixed. Verily, Singapore taxis are metered. In fact, each taxi company has its own price table. Still, rates are more or less the same. The usual fare for the 26-km/16.1-mile ride is around S$30/$22.30/€20.70 to S$35/$26/€24.10. An airport fee is added to the taximeter’s indication. Thus, SIN airport rides are S$8/$6/€5.55 pricier from 05:00 pm to midnight and S$6/$4.46/€4.13 costlier at other times. Are you traveling during rush hours, that is, from 06:00 am to 09:30 am on weekdays, from 05:00 pm to 00:00 am every day (including holidays), and from 10:00 am to 02:00 pm on weekends and public holidays? Then, your journey will be 25% more expensive. Moreover, night rides (from midnight to 06:00 am) are 50% higher-priced as well. You should also keep in mind that any ERP fees (toll fees) will also add to the final taxi rate. On the other hand, luggage is out of charge, and tipping isn’t obligatory. Finally, even though cash and card payments are equally accepted, electronic payments come with a 10% fee on the final price (plus GST).
Our Tip: Ride-sharing is also an option for the ride from Changi Airport to Sentosa. Various companies, such as Grab, are present at Singapore International Airport.
Singapore Airport to Sentosa Island by Train
Although the Changi airport train is a cost-effective and efficient way of traveling, it remains an uncomfortable option for travelers with luggage as it doesn’t feature luggage racks and requires changes of lines, making the ride from Changi Airport to Sentosa tedious. Thus, if you want to reach your destination in Sentosa via train, you’ll have to get to the Changi Airport MRT Station, lying below terminals 2 and 3. As a result, passengers arriving at T1 use the free SkyTrain to reach T2, while the complimentary airport shuttle gets T4 passengers to T2/MRT. Once you are at the airport train station, you’ll catch the first train running towards Tanah Merah Station. Verily, even though the airport train line is regarded as part of the East West Line, passengers have to alight at the Tanah Merah Station as the line splits into two branches. You’ll hop on the train to Tuas Link and disembark at the Outram Park Station. From that location, you’ll have to take the North East Purple Line heading to Harbourfront. Please note that the Changi airport train runs from 05:31 am (05:59 am on Sundays and holidays) to 11:18 pm on a 7-12-minute frequency, and the East West Line operates every 3-16.5 minutes. On the other hand, the North East Line is available from 05:42 am to 11:58 pm every 2 minutes.
The Harbourfront Station lies on the basement level of the VivoCity mall. Once you get there, you’ll have to reach the shopping center’s top floor (Level 3, Lobby L) and catch the Sentosa Express Monorail to Sentosa Island. The Sentosa Express Monorail runs from 07:00 am to 00:00 am and makes three stops on its way at Resorts World Sentosa, Imbiah, and Beach Station.
The duration of the ride from Singapore Airport to Sentosa Island will be around 85 minutes.
The MRT fares depend on the journey’s distance. Thus, the ride from Changi Airport to Harbourfront Station will cost you S$2.18/1.62/€1.50. Children up to 0.9m (2ft 11.43in) travel for free.
Contactless payments and mobile wallets can be used to pay for the train fares (please keep in mind that admin fees apply to payments via foreign bank cards), while EZ-Link Cards are the most popular payment method. The rechargeable card can be easily topped up with money and costs S$12/$8.90/€8.20, with S$7/$5.20/€4.80 of that amount credited for upcoming rides. Alternatively, tourists often settle on Singapore Tourist Passes, the special EZ-Link Cards that are recommended when buses and trains are the main transit option during the journey in Singapore. You can make your pick among three types of passes:
- Singapore Tourist Pass: You can buy the pass valid for unlimited bus and train rides within a 24-hour time frame, paying S$22/$16.36/€15.13 or opt for the 2-day pass, which is priced at S$29/$21.56/€19.93. The 3-day card is higher-valued at S$34/$25.28/€23.35. It’s important to remember that if you return the card after its period of validity to one of the SimplyGo Ticket Offices, you’ll be given back S$10/$7.44/€6.88 (the card’s rental deposit).
- SG Tourist Pass / SG Tourist Pass (Red): It costs S$29/$21.56/€19.93 and can be used within a 3-day period of time.
- Singapore Tourist Pass Plus: Also valid for 3 days, it is costlier (S$48/$35.69/€33) as it offers an Xplore 1-hour Tour, free postcards, and a S$5/$3.72/€3.44 credit for Changi Travel Concierge Service.
All passes come with several benefits and discounts. Moreover, the pass holders can keep the cards once they expire and use them as EZ-Link Cards for public rides or retail purchases. Expectantly, they won’t get back the Singapore Tourist Pass’s rental deposit, though. All Singapore Tourist Cards and EZ-Link Cards can be purchased from the Changi Recommends Stores, the Cheers Outlets, the Passenger Service Center, or the ticket counters at the airport’s MRT Station.
You’ll have to tap in and out of the boarding and alighting train stations. It’s important to use the same card or device as otherwise, you might get overcharged.
On the other hand, the Sentosa Express journey is priced at S$4/$2.97/€2.74. You can buy your tickets online or use an EZ-Link Card. Contactless payments are equally accepted. However, Singapore Tourist Passes AREN’T valid for Sentosa Express rides.
Travelers arriving at Sentosa Island have to pay the S$4/$2.97/€2.74 fee for Sentosa Express. Conversely, those departing from the island can travel with the monorail for free.
Thus, the total fare of the train ride from Changi Airport to Sentosa is priced at S$6.18/$4.60/€4.25.
Our Tip: You can also walk your way from VivoCity to Sentosa Island via the Sentosa Boardwalk. It is a scenic route, and the distance to Universal Studios is 1.5km/0.9 mile. That being said, it isn’t advisable when traveling with luggage or if your destination is further located on the island.
Singapore Airport to Sentosa Island by Bus
Changi airport buses might be a cheap way to travel from Changi Airport to Sentosa, but, at the same time, they are time-consuming and don’t provide direct transit services. Thus, if you opt for a bus ride from Singapore Changi Airport, you’ll have to catch Bus 36 calling at the basement levels of T1, T2, and T3, and right next to Car Park 4B of terminal 4. The bus is available from 06:00 am to 11:58 pm. Its frequency varies depending on the time of the day. Thus, it has available routes every 8 minutes during peak hours, whereas it runs every 12 minutes during non-rush hours. You’ll hop off Bus 36 at the Royal Thai Embassy. From that stop, you’ll have to take Bus 123 heading to Sentosa. The bus stops at Resorts World Sentosa, Village Hotel, and terminates its route at Beach Terminus. It operates from 05:45 am to 11:45 pm every 11-16 minutes. The total duration of your ride from Singapore Airport to Sentosa Resort will be around 2 hours, and its cost will be approximately S$2.33/$1.73/€1.60 (depending on your disembarking stop). Children up to 0.9m (2ft 11.43in) aren’t charged. You can pay for your bus fares contactless, use your mobile wallet, or buy an EZ-Link Card. Singapore Tourist Passes are accepted too, while cash payments inside the bus are also an option. Still, the bus fares are slightly costlier during cash-paid journeys, and passengers should carry the exact amount with them as they aren’t given back change.
You’ll have to tap your card or device on the front door while boarding the bus and tap it out at the back door before disembarking from the vehicle. Please make sure to use the same card or device.
Car Rental from Changi Airport to Sentosa
If you are looking for a transit way to get from Changi Airport to Sentosa, you might as well rent a car from Singapore Airport. Changi airport car rentals aren’t only a convenient option to reach Sentosa Island, but they are also recommended for traveling around Singapore and uncovering all its famous or even less-known attractions. Indeed, roads in Singapore are in excellent condition, drivers drive carefully, and traffic overall stays within tolerable levels. You’ll find various car hire providers at the main airport in Singapore. In any case, it is strongly advisable to opt for an early reservation. In that way, you’ll find more available vehicles as well as plenty of deals.
The ride with your Singapore car rental should last about 30-35 minutes. If you are traveling during peak hours, you should expect a longer journey. That being said, the duration of the transit won’t exceed 45 minutes, even during rush hours. You’ll have to pay an entry fee to enter the island. Verily, the island’s visitors who drive to Sentosa pay a S$6/$4.46/€4.12 fare at the gantry’s counters from 07:00 am to 11:30 am and from 01:30 pm to 05:00 pm and S$2/1.50/€1.38 at other times. The majority of the island’s hotels offer parking services. Nevertheless, if this isn’t the case, you’ll find various car park facilities scattered around the island.
Private Airport Transfers from Changi Airport to Sentosa
If you want to elevate your transit from Singapore Airport to Sentosa Island, you should settle on a private airport transfer. The private airport transfer companies that are present at Changi International Airport provide door-to-door, safe, and fast rides. However, their main perk is their side amenities. Customers can tailor journeys to their exact needs simply by adding extra products and services to their rides. On the other hand, private airport transfers are slightly more expensive than a journey with a Singapore airport taxi. However, the quality and range of the services justify the additional expenses.
FAQs
How do I get from the airport to Sentosa Island?
Airport taxis and private airport transfers directly connect Singapore Airport to Sentosa Island. Conversely, bus and train rides are much more affordable, but they are also tiring and time-consuming. On the other hand, an airport car rental is an ideal way to reach your destination in Sentosa at your own pace.
How far is Sentosa from the airport?
The distance from Singapore Airport to Sentosa Island is about 26km/16.1 miles. Thus, a car ride from the airport to the popular tourist destination lasts about 30-35 minutes. On the other hand, buses and trains don’t travel directly from Changi Airport to Sentosa. Thus, trains take about 85 minutes, while the duration of a bus journey is usually about 2 hours.